TOW #4 - IRB: "Tuesdays with Morrie"

Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom is a book about an individual journey through life. Morrie Shwartz taught an eager Mitch Albom at Brandeis University. Inspired by his outlook on life and his diverse ways of teaching, Albom visited Shwartz during not only his office hours but personal visits. Upon graduation, Albom promised Shwartz he would keep in touch. This promise was one Albom did not keep and he greatly regrets this.

Years later, a far older, wiser and ALS stricken man, Morrie Shwartz is interviewed and put on “Nightline”, a special on ABC. Albom, flipping through channels, sees this interview with his old professor. Overcome by regret for not keeping his promise, Albom is angry with himself for allowing himself to lose touch with one of his greatest influences who is now months away from death. Albom’s feelings were so powerful that he flew to Boston, Morrie’s hometown, and paid him a visit. These visits became regular and each Tuesday, Mitch traveled to see Morrie and discuss life lessons.

These life lessons opened Albom’s eyes to new perspectives. His money-driven life became sad, as if the true meaning of his life consisted of success. The life lessons that Morrie describes are not just relevant to Mitch, but to a broad audience of people struggling to see the good in life. Struggling to breathe, eat and go to the bathroom on his own, Morrie has a clear vision of what struggle and death look like. He uses lessons learned in his own life to aid and direct Mitch find a happier path in life, one focusing on non-materialistic things.

Mitch Albom describes his relationship with Morrie using anecdotes. Albom flashes back to times when he was still in college and saw Morrie as a teacher and not as a friend. Albom also uses figurative language to describe the weakness of Morrie. He compares Morrie to fragile things, to things full of struggle and death. This helps the reader understand Morrie’s true state of living.

I believe that Albom is successful in communicating his purpose. He clearly shows how his life has been pulled in a different direction because of Morrie’s wise words.